Gerunds and Infinitives – Usage, Rules, Exceptions

Advanced

Grammar Type: Verb Forms

📘 Rule Summary

A gerund is the -ing form of a verb used as a noun. An infinitive is the base form of a verb with “to” (or bare infinitive without “to”). The choice between them depends on the main verb, expression, or intended meaning.

📝 Examples

Gerund: I enjoy reading.

Infinitive: I want to travel.

Bare infinitive: I let him go.

📖 Explanation

🌱 Level 1 – Beginner: Understanding Gerunds & Infinitives

1️⃣ What is a Gerund?

  • Form: Verb + ing
  • Function: Acts like a noun

Examples:

  • Swimming is fun. ✅ (subject)
  • I enjoy reading. ✅ (object)
  • She is good at singing. ✅ (after preposition)

2️⃣ What is an Infinitive?

  • Form: to + base verb
  • Example: to eat, to play, to learn
  • Function: Can be subject, object, or express purpose.

Examples:

  • To travel is my dream. ✅ (subject)
  • I want to learn Spanish. ✅ (object)
  • She works hard to succeed. ✅ (purpose)

3️⃣ Bare Infinitive

  • Base verb without to
  • Used after modal verbs, certain verbs like make, let, and in some structures.

Examples:

  • I can swim. ✅
  • They let him go. ✅

🌿 Level 2 – Intermediate: When to Use Gerund vs. Infinitive

1. Some verbs are followed by a gerund:

  • enjoy, avoid, suggest, recommend, consider, mind, practice, finish, quit, deny

Examples:

  • I enjoy swimming. ✅
  • She avoided talking to him. ✅

2. Some verbs are followed by an infinitive:

  • want, need, hope, decide, agree, plan, refuse, promise, learn

Examples:

  • I want to travel to Italy. ✅
  • They decided to stay home. ✅

3. Some verbs can be followed by either, but meaning changes:

  • remember, forget, stop, try

Examples:

  • I remembered locking the door. ✅ (past action)
  • Remember to lock the door. ✅ (future action)
  • She stopped smoking. ✅ (quit the habit)
  • She stopped to smoke. ✅ (paused another activity to smoke)

4. After prepositions → Always gerund:

  • I’m good at playing chess. ✅
  • He left without saying goodbye. ✅

5. After certain expressions:

  • Gerund: It’s no use arguing. / Can’t help laughing.
  • Infinitive: It’s important to study. / It’s nice to meet you.

6. After adjectives:

  • Infinitive: I’m happy to see you.
  • Gerund (rare, fixed phrases): Busy doing homework.

7. Infinitives for Purpose:

  • I went to the shop to buy milk. ✅

🌳 Level 3 – Advanced: Subtle Usage & Global Context

1. Gerund as Subject vs. Infinitive as Subject

  • Gerund: More general
    • Reading is good for you.
  • Infinitive: More specific
    • To read this book will help you pass.

2. Causative Verbs

  • Make, let → bare infinitive
  • Get → to-infinitive

Examples:

  • They made me do it. ✅
  • She let him drive her car. ✅
  • I got him to help me. ✅

3. Perception Verbs

  • See, hear, feel → bare infinitive (complete action) / -ing form (ongoing)

Examples:

  • I saw him cross the street. ✅ (whole action)
  • I saw him crossing the street. ✅ (in progress)

4. Global Variations

  • In American English, “help” is often followed by a bare infinitive:
    • He helped me move. ✅
  • In British English, “help” more often takes to:
    • He helped me to move. ✅

⚠ Common Mistakes and Fixes

❌ Incorrect✅ CorrectReason
I enjoy to swim.I enjoy swimming.Enjoy → gerund
I suggested to go early.I suggested going early.Suggest → gerund
She decided going abroad.She decided to go abroad.Decide → infinitive
He made me to cry.He made me cry.Make → bare infinitive
I saw her to dance.I saw her dance.Perception verb → bare infinitive

🧪 Practice Exercises

  1. I enjoy ______ (read) novels. ✅ reading
  2. She wants ______ (visit) London. ✅ to visit
  3. They stopped ______ (eat) lunch. ✅ to eat / eating (meaning changes)
  4. We decided ______ (stay) at home. ✅ to stay
  5. He avoided ______ (talk) about it. ✅ talking

🧠 Practice Quiz